Carroll expects Lynch to carry the load for Seahawks

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Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was acquired by the Seahawks in a trade Tuesday. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Pete Carroll has been pursuing Marshawn Lynch since his days as a high school All-American running back out of Oakland in 2003.

But while Lynch didn’t sign with Carroll at USC, he’ll join forces now with the Seahawks as the new running back in Seattle’s fast-changing regime.

Marshawn Lynch

The Seahawks obtained Lynch from the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday for a fourth-round draft pick next year and a conditional 2012 pick that will either be a fifth- or sixth-round selection, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

While Lynch brings a little baggage from Buffalo, where he grew unhappy after his 2008 Pro Bowl season, the Seahawks feel they’ve landed a big-time back who can help immediately.

The Seahawks released veteran Julius Jones and plan to have Lynch in tandem with former Cal teammate Justin Forsett by their next game at Chicago on Oct. 17.

Carroll declined to anoint Lynch as the immediate starter, but said “we’re bringing him in to play a bunch.”

The 5-11, 217-pound Lynch gives Seattle a bigger back, a guy “who can carry the load.”

Lynch ran for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in Buffalo, but his playing time and production dropped last year when he totaled 450 yards in 13 games.

He’s also had some off-field issues, including a hit-and-run incident in Buffalo in 2008 and a guilty plea to a misdemeanor gun charge that resulted in three years of probation in ’09.

Marshawn Lynch, a former first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, figures to soon be the lead back in Seattle after Tuesday’s trade. (Getty Images/Al Bello)

But he’s regarded as a quality NFL back who has speed, power and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s under contract for $885,000 and $1.14 million in 2011.

“Marshawn is 24 and just getting started in his career,” Carroll said. “He’s got a couple years left on his contract, so we know we’re digging in with him as one of our guys. We like the fact he’s a young, productive guy that can come to the program.

“But we’re counting on him coming to help us now. This is a move to help us immediately that we know has longevity to it because of his makeup and age and all. We’re pumped about the opportunity to get him in here and we’re counting on him being able to help us by next week.”

Carroll said the Seahawks have been working on a deal to land Lynch for “a long time,” but obviously waited for the asking price to become reasonable. Having drafted C.J. Spiller in the first round this year, the Bills finally let Lynch go after he’d rushed for 164 yards on 37 carries in their first four games.

Lynch is close friends with Seahawks running back Justin Forsett, whom he’ll team with again in the backfield after the two were together at Cal for three years.

Lynch was a groomsman in Forsett’s wedding earlier this year.

Lynch is the second-leading rusher in Cal history at 3,230 yards, with Forsett third at 3,220.

Justin Forsett

Forsett, who has started the first four games for Seattle this season, said he has “no issue” with losing playing time to Lynch.

“He’s been like a brother to me for a while now,” Forsett said. “He’ll bring a lot to this team. He’s just an incredible player, a Pro Bowler.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen. If it did happen, it was going to be OK with me. … I know he was a little unhappy being out there in Buffalo, so he’s going to get a fresh start. This will be a good spot for him.”

Forsett said Lynch will fit in well with the Seahawks and despite his checkered past, described his friend as a “big-hearted guy” who will “literally give people the shirt off his back” if asked.

Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who played with Forsett and Lynch for three years at Cal, said it’s a good one-two punch.

“Just having him and Forsett in the backfield is a good thing,” Mebane said. “Both of them fed off each other to just run even harder. They’d both be there every time to congratulate each other. That’s something I always noticed.”

Carroll says Lynch is “a very unique football player. He plays with great intensity. He’s got ‘make-you-miss’ ability and he’s also physical and runs tough. He has really good hands and can catch the football as well, so he’s got great versatility to him. He’s got speed to break away and an attitude about the way he runs that he can run the ball in tough situations.